St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-12-17
POOR FATHER!
Unbounded Happiness Turned to
Deepest Sorrow.


learned that his ship. Francis GARNER.
was to be sent to China, he thought Of
his wife and boy. and this thought sud-
denly checked his JOY to be put in the
way Of gaining the epaulettes Of Capt
ain. Even he experienced something
like rcmorsc for having wished his ship
to be one Of those selected for this far
away expedition, and. he asked HIM
self, il these instantaneous disquietutles
were not what people call . PRESENT.
mcnt.
It is this, for the last month his child
was unwell. aud the doctor had recon-
meniled constant care and attentive
treatment Marcel was born a little
delicate. sickly. one would say it seemed
as if he had inherited the paludean
fever, of which his father has suffered
in Africa on the banks of those large
and treacherous rivers, where malaria
reigns supreme.
Madame Robeline expected the news;
she wanted to be courageous.
when do you leave?" she asked.
simply.
I'm a fortnight"
She felt her heart ready to burst. He
took her on his knees, and with his
kisses he restrained her tears.
Papa" stammercd the boy. ''will
you take me with you?''
The sailor had his home outside Of
Toulon, in this corner of the roadway.
gracious and picturesque as Neapoli-
tan bay. He hoped that, in the midst
of palm and orange trees, his young
one would improve; but the child. after
recovering little, became weak again
under the anxious eyes Of his mother.
those woman 3 eyes which refuse to
notice the painful traces Of sickness on
the loved faces. although they see them
growing deeper; equally prompt to
hope or despair. and whose tenderness
has tears for joy as well as for sorrow.
Three days before tbs Francis
GARNER left her moorings to make her
essays and regulate her compasses
Madame Robeline visited her husbands
ship. where he was going to live. and,
who knows. die. perhaps. wounded dur
ing battle? She had some terrific
visions
Ah!poor sailors wives!
She arranged his cabin, made a nest
Of it. filled it with green plants which |
would fade away once in open sea.
Her picture and the child's smiled |
above the narrow bed in frame made |
with swords and revolvers. where for |
the future exilcd they would recall the
absent home to his mind. And while
she placed all those things. often alone,
her husband being on duty on the deck, |
she cried. One evening, as she had
belated herself. she wrapped Marcel in
a shawl. but the gamin threw down the
garment again and again. clapped his
hands. laughed with the sailors, happy
with the breeze and swell. He caught
. cold. The next day he could not rise
he coughed 50 much.
His father and mother slept no more,
The Francis Carriers departure was
liked for the next Saturday. They
counted the hours. Soon the child
was at deaths door.
''Will you save him, doctor?'' be-
sought they.
The doctor answered "ycs." but that
lid not satisfy them. Marcel was too
eeble to resist that dreadful cough.
And the parents returned to their
'hild's bed. murmuring some tender
vords without hearing themselves
peak. They looked at their moaning
hild and buried their nails in the
'alms Of their hands.
I'VE leave on Saturday."
Bertha uttered ; great cr-. Satnr.
lay night ought not to come for her
But the angel may die that very
perhaps! Her boy to die-to
lie!
'.Do not 60. Henry! For Gods sake.
10 not CO."
He went out to solicit his transfer 70
mother ship that remained in Toulon.
IN the threshold Of his door he re-
ectcd; he commanded msn-o'-war.
. had his mission and his orders. Not
, sail now was to desert. Then he -.
ntered his home; his boy was saving:
Papa. will you bring me plenty Of
Ainese toys?'
Ame- Kobeline opened the window:
= pointed the ship to her husband.
s.You must 60. Henry! l am cr.xy.
not know what am saying. -"
he Francis GARNER cast OF her
Drings; her captain was on the
ga When crossing tho entrance